Collapsible crate.



, M. E. SWTH COLLAPSfBLE CRATE. 7 APPLicAnm: man saw. I. 1915.

Fatenifid Apr, 4, 1916 a ttomwxf M ILO E. SMITH, F BURLEY, WASHINGTON.

COL'LAPSIBLE CRATE,

T 0 all 10 hom it may concern Be it known that I, MILO E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burley, in the county of Kitsap and State of \Vashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates, of which the following is a speg'flcation.

This invention relates to collapsible crates, and it has for its, object the provision of an improved device of this nature constructed in such a manner that it may be readily folded into small compass when not in use and when open will afford a safe and secure package in which various commodities may be shipped. v

It is well known that it is highly desirable to provide collapsible crates of this nature because they occupy but small space during the time that they are stored in a merchants place of business, and during the time that they are in transit upon their return. Many of the crates heretofore devised while being relatively cheap have been discarded after being once used. i

It is an object of the present invention to provide amore durable crate than those just mentioned and to construct it in such a'manner that it may be readily collapsed and returned to the sender after having been used, and to accomplish this in a simple and inexpensive. structure so arranged that it will stand without collapsing while being filled, and will be rigid during shipment. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which'now follows:

"In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a crate in its open or unfolded condition. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view with the parts in open or unfolded position in full lines and folded or collapsed condition in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the crate with'the parts in collapsed condition. Fig. 5 is a detail view'of the joint'between the'meeting ends of the top and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the hinge pintles hereinafter described.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts inall of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the crate comprises a base 5 having upturned side walls 6, and up-turned end walls 7. Side plates 8 are hinged to the up-turned sides 6 at 9 by means of ears 10 and pintles fectivelyguarded. against.

Specification ofLettersPatent. yatg tefl A 4 1915 Application ineaseptember 7,1915. Seria1No.49,275. i I

11. End plates 12 are hinged to the upturned end walls 7 by means of ears 13 and pintles 14:. A partition plate 15 is hinged to the base '5 at 16, and is held in vertical -positionby a transirerse flange 2% formed 6 w th flange 24. Cover plates 17 and 18 are hinged to the outer ends of the end plates 12 by pintles 19 The ends of the pintles 19 are provided with in-turning hooked ex.-- tensions 20 adapted to engage in staple like 6 keepers 21 of the side plates 8 to holdtho thecrate is being filled or emptied, so that accidental collapsing of the crate will be ef- 18 are provided with down turned fianges'22 and the end plates 12 are provided with inturned flanges, 28 said flanges partly embracing the top and side edges of the side plates 8 as is clearly 7 illustrated in Fig. 2. thereby further bracmg the structure and preventing the entry of dust and dirt to the interior of the crate. The cover plates 17 and 18 are provided. with interengaging transverse flanges 24 and 25 and the flange 25 is bent to form a housing 26 for keeper bail 27. This bail extends through the housing 26, across the crate and comprises' downward extensions 27* with hooks 27" at their terminal ends which hooks 8 The cover plates 17 and end walls 12 inposition during the time that pass through openings 28 in the side plates .thebase 5 as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3; after which the side plates 8 are folded over the end and cover plates 1217 and l8gand all of'the parts are secured in- 1 this folded condition by buttons 29 which are pivoted at 30 to one of the'plates 8 and are adapted to be moved to engage over the edge of the other plate 8 as is best illustrated in Fig. 4. 1 lVhile the elements shown and described are well adapted serve the "purposes for which they are intended, it is to be under stood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that it 1 includes Within its purview'such changes as come Within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my' invention what I claim is:

form a bearing for. a bail, abail journaled in said bearing and comprising downturned hooked side members, said side plates having openings formed therethrough for the reception of said hooked'side members.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a base, end plates hinged to said base, side plates hinged to said base, cover plates hinged at their outer ends to .said end plates, the inner ends of said end plates being bent to form interengaging flanges and one of said flanges being further bent 'to form a bearing fora bail,a bailjournaled in said bearing and comprising down-turned hooked side members, said side plates having openings formed therethrough for the reception of said hooked side members, and a partition plate hinged to saidbase, the upper end of which has engagement with the flange of one of the cover plates. I

' 3. A device of the character described comprising a base, end plates hinged to said base, side plates hinged to saidbase, cover plates hinged to said end plates, flanges carried by the cover and end plates which overlap the edges of the side plates,interengaging flanges upon the meeting ends of the 1 cover plates, a bail journaled in one of said flanges having down-turned hooked side members said side plates having openings dormed therethrough for the reception of 'said hook members.

4. A device of the character describedcomprising a base, end plates hinged to said base, side plates hinged to said base, cover interengag ends of the cover plates, a bail journaled in one of said flanges having down-turned hook side members, said side lates having openings formed ctherethrough tor the reception of said hook members, and means carried by the end plates" and detachably engaging the side plates. i p 5. A device of the character described comprising a base,

ends, and keepers carried by said side plates with the inturned hooked ends I for engaging of the pintles.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my handin presence of two subscribing wit- IIGSSGS.

MILO SMITH. WVitnesses 1' AVA. KNIGHT, LOUIS J. MUscnK.

end plates hinged to said base, side plates hinged to said base, cover 

